Legislature(2013 - 2014)SENATE FINANCE 532
04/07/2014 09:00 AM Senate FINANCE
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB119 | |
| SB201 | |
| HB19 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | SB 119 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | SB 201 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HB 19 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HB 263 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
SENATE BILL NO. 119
"An Act making appropriations, including capital
appropriations and other appropriations; making
appropriations to capitalize funds."
9:12:24 AM
Co-Chair Kelly MOVED to ADOPT the committee substitute for
CS SB 119 (FIN), Work Draft 28-GS2672\O (Martin, 4/6/14).
There being NO OBJECTION it was so ordered.
9:13:02 AM
AT EASE
9:18:54 AM
RECONVENED
Co-Chair Meyer clarified that the version of the bill was
"O" not zero.
SUZANNE ARMSTRONG, STAFF, SENATOR KEVIN MEYER, pointed to
the "Multi-year Agency Summary" (copy on file). The first
column represented the numbers that were spent by agencies
in the FY 15 Capital Budget, which totaled $1,877.189
million. Of the total capital budget, unrestricted general
funds (UGF) were $539.4 million; designated general funds
(DGF) were $129.3 million; other state funds were $109
million; and federal receipts were slightly above $1
billion. The second column represented the FY 14 Capital
Supplemental Budget, which totaled $5.73 million, of which
$2.9 million was UGF and $2.1 million was DGF. The third
column was the FY 14 Supplemental Operating Budget, which
totaled $43.2 million, of which $39.3 million was UGF,
$103,000 was DGF, $3.8 million in other state funds, and
there was a $45,000 reduction in federal receipts.
Co-Chair Meyer queried the reduction of the current budget
versus the previous year's budget. Ms. Armstrong replied
that there was roughly a $403.5 million reduction in total
funds. She stated that it represented $445.9 million in
UGF, $97 million in DGF, $30 million in other state funds,
and the federal component was increased by $170 million.
Co-Chair Meyer surmised that the UGF spending was obtained
by reductions made in the governor's proposal. He wondered
if she would speak to the reductions in the governor's
proposal. Ms. Armstrong responded that between the FY 14
Supplemental Budget and the FY 15 Proposed Budget there was
approximately $102 million in reductions. The UGF were
reduced by $88.5 million, DGF were reduced by $17 million,
and other state funds were increased by approximately $3.8
million. Of the $88 million reduction in UGF, approximately
$32.7 million of that was for the requested FY 14
supplemental request for the Susitna-Watana Dam. In the FY
15 reductions, there was $5 million reduction from the
governor's request of $15 million for Positive Train
Control for the Alaska Railroad. There was a reduction of
approximately $18 million from the UA deferred maintenance
budget. There was a $10 million in the Department of
Transportation and Public Facilities (DOT/PF) budget, but
projects had been identified as completed, so there were
repurposed funds towards FY 15 priorities.
Co-Chair Meyer thanked Karen Rehfeld for her cooperation
with the drafting of the budget. He wondered how the
information could be accessed. Ms. Armstrong replied that
there would be a series of reports available on the
Legislative Finance Division's (LFD) website.
9:25:49 AM
Senator Hoffman queried the school construction budget for
FY 15. Ms. Armstrong replied with page 31, line 15. She
stated that there were two listed projects. The previous
year's budget appropriated funds for the construction for
the K-12 school in Kwethluck, and the $31.5 million in the
current budget funded to complete the project. The second
project was St. Mary's School District, at $11.7 million
which was the first school on the new school construction
list.
Co-Chair Meyer highlighted some aspects of the budget. He
encouraged the committee to review the language section of
the bill. He remarked that the budget upheld the goal of
reducing the capital budget. He noted that the year prior
had a $1 billion reduction, and the current budget
reflected a reduction of nearly $4 million. He felt that
the current economy was very strong, and remarked that the
budget bill was substantial. He stressed that maintaining
assets, completing projects, and distributing money to
various communities. He noted the $9 million for deferred
maintenance; and $37.5 million for the State Library
Archives and Museum (SLAM. He stressed that there would be
a new CS that would address building of the power plant at
UAF. He remarked that there was almost $7 million in grants
for domestic violence and sexual assault safe shelters.
There was an issue of chronic inebriates in Anchorage, so
there was $5 million for Partners for Progress. He noted
that there was money for various community centers, health
centers, and libraries.
9:33:30 AM
Senator Bishop commented that the capital budget was very
healthy. He felt that there were many economic issues that
the state deals faces. He stressed that the private sector
was very successful in the state, and felt that the
employment rate in Anchorage was very strong.
Co-Chair Meyer thanked LFD for their work on the budget.
SB 119 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further
consideration.
9:37:02 AM
AT EASE
9:47:35 AM
RECONVENED